The Daily Journal from Fergus Falls, Minnesota · Page 1

DailuJournal m lOlstYEAR NO. 164 FERGUS FALLS, MINNESOTA 56537 SATURDAY, JULY 13, 1974 SINGLECOPYlOc At Washington courthouse Convicts release 14 of 21 hostages WASHINGTON (AP) - Two armed convicts pressed their efforts today to barter seven hostages in a U.S. District Courthouse cellblock for freedom after releasing 14 inmates who had been caught up in the standoff for nearly 43 hours. The Justice Department called the release of the 14 prisoners, who had neither been part of the take-over nor labeled as hostages, an act of good faith. One woman prisoner chose to remain in the cellblock apparently to keep the one female hostage company, officials said. U.S. marshals said no hostages had been harmed. The release occurred after the two convicts rejected the government's offer to transfer them to a penitentiary in Oklahoma. But authorities still made no move to give the two men the plane ride out of the country that they had demanded since taking control of the basement detention area about 2 p.m. Thursday. A Justice Department spokesman said after the inmates release: "We still have a lot of people down there and it's still a dangerous situation." The convicts, Frank Gorham, 25, and Robert Jones, 24, have threatened to kill the hostages, four civilians and three deputy U.S. marshals, if police storm the cellblock in the courthouse, where the Watergate grand jury investigation and trials have been held. Gorham told radio station WASH that the door of the cellblock had been handcuffed to a desk so that it opened outward just enough for one person to squeeze through at a time. Release of the prisoners was watched by Chief U.S. District Judge George L. Hart, who is responsible for the building, Petersen boosts Nixon's impeachment defense NIGHT DESCENDS ON THE MIDWAY — as the daylight fades the Midway provides its own lights for patrons of the 65th Annual Otter Tail County Fair. Yesterday 8,975 persons passed through the gates, bringing the total to 21,234 for the first three days. Tonight the Sherwin Ltntoo Show Is scheduled to perform at the Grandstand at 8. Tomorrow's activities include a program by the John Mathews family in the afternoon followed by a demolition derby and fireworks in the evening. (Journal photo by Harley Oyloe) Ehrlichman convicted of conspiracy, perjury WASHINGTON (AP) - John D. Ehrlichman, once described by President Nixon as one of the finest public servants he ever knew, has been convicted of plotting an illegal search at the office of Daniel EUsberg's psychiatrist. After a 12-day trial, a federal court jury took five hours Friday to find Ehrlichman guilty of the conspiracy charge and of lying to the FBI and a Watergate grand jury about the Sept 3, 1971 break-in by the White House investigative unit known as the plumbers. Within minutes of the verdict, Ehrlichman said his lawyers would appeal the case. Three other defendants were also found guilty of conspiring to violate the constitutional rights of the psychiatrist, Dr. Ijems J. Fielding of Beverly Hills, Calif. Until he resigned April 30, 1973, the 49-year-old Ehrlichman was among the closest of Nixon's assistants. The former White House domestic affairs chief now is subject to a maximum jail sentence of 25 years and fines of up to $40,000. U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell set sentencing for July 31. Until then, the defendants remain free. Arland 'Bud' Anderson files for legislature Arland "Bud" Anderson, 45, a Buse Township farmer, filed for the office of state representative in District 11A yesterday at Secretary of State Arlen Erdahl's office in St. Paul. He will seek election to the office held by Calvin Larson who announced in April he is not seeking re-election. The district includes parts of Otter Tail and Grant Counties and all of Traverse County. Anderson is a lifelong resident of Otter Tail County, the son of Arthur M. and Inga Anderson, also lifelong residents of the county. He has ARLAND ANDERSON been engaged in beef and grain fanning south of Fergus Falls for the past 18 years. Filing as a Republican, he said he will campaign on a person-to-person basis and on a platform of "openness in government, environmental protection, preservation of local government and individual rights and a citizen- type legislature." He stands for the preservation of the rural way of life, representation for rural Minnesota in state government and orderly and sensible growth and development, he said. He is a 1945 graduate of Fergus Falls High School. He served three years in the Army, including infantry combat duty in Korea. Anderson is past president of the Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club and is presently a member of the state executive committee of the Minnesota Conservation Federation. He has been a member of the Buse Township board and has been active in numerous conservation projects. He was an active opponent of the proposed Minnesota Experimental City in this area. Anderson is a member of the First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He and his wife, Donna, have three children, Steven, 19: Wendy, 18, and Dana, 6. The other defendants, G. Gordon Liddy and Miamians Bernard L. Barker and Eugenic R. Martinez, could receive maximum sentences of 10 years in jail and fines of $10,000. Those three were convicted last year in connection with the 1972 break-in at Democratic Party 29 state legislators unopposed ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) With only two days remaining to file for public office in the Minnesota fall elections, Secretary of State Arlen Erdahl says at least 29 state legislators have no opposition. Erdahl said Friday that 20 DFLers and nine Republicans are assured of another two-year term in the House of Representatives unless someone files against them. DFLers currently control the House by a 78-56 margin. Tuesday is the last day for filing and it is traditionally the busiest day. Candidates for 62 House seats must file with the secretary of state because their districts cross county lines. In the remaining 72 districts, candidates file with the county auditor. Erdahl said his tabulation of uncontested seats does not include the 72 seats where candidates file with the county auditor. But he said many lawmakers are "going to get a free ride" unless more candidates file. "There may be an apathy among voters that is reflecting on potential candidates," the state official said. headquarters in the Watergate complex here. A member of the jury who asked not to be identified said there was some heated discussion at first about Ehrlichman, but then the jurors began a review of a series of White House memos included in the trial evidence which helped settle the issue for them. Associate Special Watergate Prosecutor William H. Merrill had built much of his case on the memos in which Ehrlichman gave his approval to a covert examination of Ellsberg's psychiatric records. On an Aug. 11, 1971 memo, Ehrlichrnan had written beneath his initials instructions on how the operation should be carried out. "If done under your assurance that it is not traceable," Ehrlichman wrote to two White House aides. Continued on page 4 WASHINGTON (AP) - Asst. Atty. Gen. Henry Petersen, who was in charge of the original Watergate investigation, has told the House impeachment inquiry he has never received any information involving President Nixon in a cover-up. Petersen, who testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Friday, was described by some Republican members as the most favorable witness for Nixon the committee has heard in its impeachment inquiry. Rep. Charles Sandman, K- N.J., said he asked Petersen whether he had ever received any information, up to the present moment, indicating Nixon was involved in covering up the Watergate scandal. "He said clearly, 'no'," Sandman told newsmen after Petersen's closed-door testimony. The boost given to Nixon's impeachment defense by Petersen's testimony was offset in the view of some members by the conviction of former White House aide John Ehrlichman on counts of perjury and conspiracy in connection with the burglary of the office of Daniel EUsberg's psychiatrist. The operation of the special White House investigating unit known as the plumbers, which conducted the break-in, is one of the subjects under investigation in the impeachment inquiry. Rep. Robert McClory, R-I11., said Ehrlichman's conviction "doesn't help. The fact someone so close to the President was convicted in a Watergate- related matter that is also the subject of our inquiry is going to have an adverse effect cs far as the President's welfare is concerned." Rep. Hamilton Fish, R-N.Y., a Republican who is considered a possible vote for impeachment, said he thought an acquittal for Ehrlichman "would have been a setback for the committee." But Nixon's lawyer, James D. St. Clair, disagreed. "I just learned of the verdict," he told newsmen as he emerged from a committee session. "I don't believe it has any effect on these proceedings." Petersen's statement that he had no information linking Nixon to a cover-up was received with skepticism by Rep. George Danielson, D- Calif. "There is a lot of information Petersen didn't receive," said Danielson. "He wasn't privy to everything the President knew, only what the President told him." Members said one of the points Petersen was questioned at length about was his furnishing of information about the Watergate investigation to Nixon, which Nixon passed on to Ehrlichman and H.R. Haldeman, Nixon's former chief of staff. Petersen reportedly said he saw nothing improper in giving such information to the Presi- Continued on Page 4 Nixon's taxes jump MIAMI, Fla. (AP) - President Nixon's taxes on his Key Biscayne estate will increase by an estimated $500 this year to $6,800, Dade County Tax Assessor A.H. Blake says. The President's new tax bill reflects a 32 per cent increase in the taxable value of his property. "A good part of that increase was due to improvements he put into the house — he had a swimming pool put in, for instance," Blake said Friday. The assessor said the increase was part of a general revaluation of property values throughout Dade County. The average increase in taxable property value in the county was 29.7 per cent. The total value on Nixon- owned property in the presidential compound increased by $99,762, from $315,568 last year to $415,330 this year. The property includes the Nixon residence, where valuation jumped 42 per cent to $185,401 over last year's $130,085. A second Nixon-owned house in the compound was valued at $229,929 this year, up 23 per cent over last year's valuation of $185,483. The house is used as servant's quarters and offices. Blake said the tax valuation does not include several improvements provided at taxpayer expense. He said improvements such as communications gear and a radio tower "will be taken back by the government when the President's finished with them.... We don't tax government property." and Deputy U.S. Atty. Gen. Laurence Silberman, who helped negotiate the release. Late Friday, Gorham and Jones had threatened to behead a hostage with an axe unless the government becomes more responsive to their demands. The convicts staged the takeover when one pulled a concealed gun while the two were being taken into the basement of the historic Watergate courthouse. It has not been learned how one of the two men obtained the firearm. The pair obtained more pistols and ammunition from a weapons locker in the cellblock area. "Our lines of communication with the inmates are still open and we remain hopeful," said Justice Department spokesman Robert Stevenson. He said the convicts had rejected several proposals but declined to elaborate on any of them. Jim Vance, a local newsmen with the National Broadcasting Co. who was sitting in on the negotiations at the convicts' request, said Jones agreed to one government proposal but that Gorham rejected it after speaking with his family by telephone. The proposal called for release of the hostages unharmed in return for transfer of the two men to the federal penitentiary at El Reno, Okla. An eighth hostage was freed by the pair before dawn Friday after Chief U.S. District Judge George L. Hart and marshals opened negotiations by telephone. At least 10 other prisoners remained in the cellblock, but Justice Department officials said they had taken no part in the incident and apparently were unarmed. The basement cellblock is equipped with closed-circuit television with which Gorham and Jones can watch all ep- proaches. Hundreds of heavily armed police and marshals ringed the courthouse. All but two floors of Continued on page 4 Premier of Laos stricken WEATHER FERGUS FAILS AREA Fair to partly cloudy through Sunday. High today upper 80s. I/>w tonight upper 50s. High Sunday low and mid 80s. High Friday 91. Overnight lx>w 70. < At 8 a.m. 75. At noon 90. Temperatures One Year Ago Maximum 83. Minimum 51. ANNUAL AUCTION — Area bustoewmni were on hand In great numbers this morning to bid premium prices for 4-H livestock at the West Otter Tail County Fair. Lewis Tysdal, Fergus Falls Route 2, was one of about a half-dozen auctioneers who handled the bidding. (Journal photo by Bill Bank) VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) Laotian Premier Souvanna Phouma suffered a "mild" heart attack at his home Friday afternoon and his condition has deteriorated slightly since then, informed sources reported today. Souvanna is considered a key unifying element in the turbulent politics of Laos. The sources said the 72-year- old leader was attended by five doctors Friday night. Heart specialists from Thailand and the United States reportedly were coming to Vientiane to treat him. The sources said the attack occurred at about 3 p.m. Friday, and was confirmed today by an electrocardiogram as being of a "mild" nature. Earlier, diplomatic sources had said the attack occurred today. But this morning, the premier's condition reportedly deteriorated. The sources said "there is still some cause for concern." The premier had recently been reported in poor health from time to time. Souvanna, a Lao prince, is premier of the new coalition government that was formed in April. The government unites the Royal Lap government in Vientiane, which Souvanna formerly headed as premier, and the Communist Pathet Lao, headed by Souvanna's half- brother Prince Souphanouvong. Under the agreements that now have virtually ended fighting between the two Lao factions, the deputy premier from the Pathet Lao side takes over the government if Souvanna is unable to carry out his duties.